British Gas have increased my Bill by 80%

rv02

I have a problem with British Gas (BG) since Oct 2012 my gas usage has increased by some 80% year on year with no changes to my system or usage of the same. I live with my wife in a terrace house and have 5 radiators, a gas hob and hot water run off a Worcester combi boiler all maintained & serviced by BG Homecare for a number of years. I have been with BG for over 30 years and regardless of weather conditions I have never seen an increase like this. We have had prolonged winters over the past three years and my usage only have increased inline with BGs increased prices until now which has gone up by 80%. BG are refusing to tell me the reason for this increase, all my bills are accurate they have checked my meter and boiler but no one is telling me the reason for this increase. Me and my wife are retired and there is no way I can pay off their estimated 1000 increase. any advise will be appreciate it, I have now written to the Ombudsman but the stress which is causing us is unbearable. Please note I am using my son in laws account to use this forum

DragonQ

Hmm. There can't be many explanations for this. You say your usage hasn't changed but the 2012-13 winter lasted much longer than the 2011-12 one. Personally, I had the heating on for twice as long during the former (mid-October to mid-April) when compared with the latter (late-December to mid-March). This resulted in my annual gas usage doubling. Are you sure you just haven't had the heating on for more months this winter?

Another possibility is a gas leak. Fairly easy to test - turn off the hot water and heating, don't use the hob, and check your meter (all digits) over a 24 hour period to see if it changes.

dogshome

80% Increase? - 1,000 Increase?
I'm afraid these figures are too vague to make a judgement.

Please post what the Annual Kwh useage was in the previous year, and what it was in this year

Nada666

dogshome wrote: »

80% Increase? - 1,000 Increase?
I'm afraid these figures are too vague to make a judgement.

They are not vague. "I did spend £1250 I am now being asked to spend £2250." Not at all vague. Of course, historical annual useage figures are helpful to disentangle the different factors making up the new figure.

dogshome

rv02 wrote: »

I have a problem with British Gas (BG) since Oct 2012 my gas usage has increased by some 80% year on year with no changes to my system or usage of the same. I live with my wife in a terrace house and have 5 radiators, a gas hob and hot water run off a Worcester combi boiler all maintained & serviced by BG Homecare for a number of years. I have been with BG for over 30 years and regardless of weather conditions I have never seen an increase like this. We have had prolonged winters over the past three years and my usage only have increased inline with BGs increased prices until now which has gone up by 80%. BG are refusing to tell me the reason for this increase, all my bills are accurate they have checked my meter and boiler but no one is telling me the reason for this increase. Me and my wife are retired and there is no way I can pay off their estimated 1000 increase. any advise will be appreciate it, I have now written to the Ombudsman but the stress which is causing us is unbearable. Please note I am using my son in laws account to use this forum

£1250 - £2250 ?
Somthing 's amiss as I don't have these monetary values listed on the OP's post

dogshome

Post double posted and deleted

DirectDebacle

Agree with dogshome. Op's post requires much more precision.

Maybe NADA666 is the son-in-law and has inside knowledge, lol.

Nada666

dogshome wrote: »

£1250 - £2250 ?
Somthing 's amiss as I don't have these monetary values listed on the OP's post

They stated a £1000 increase. They stated an 80% increase. Elementary arithmetic gives those numbers.

Of course I am taking the post at face value - I don't disagree that more information is probably required. But the raw statement is not vague.

Don't forget, OP, that a £1,000 increase may represent an extra of just £300-odd useage. Previous cost £1250. 20% price increase of £250, £50 standing charge increase - that leaves £700 to account for. But, of course, there may be an underpayment to claw back so the increase is only half that - £350.

I don't disagree with Dogshome that additional figures may provide a blend of DragonQ winter useage and an overvigorous demand from British Gas. But don't forget - although rv0# didn't notice using as much previously that can easily be accounted from sequential price rises. Year on year (or brace of year on brace of year) 16/20% increases can result in shocks.

Edit: I have,of course, ended up more or less arguing against my own initial post, haven't I?

Wywth

rv02 wrote: »

...Please note I am using my son in laws account to use this forum

Why didn't you create your own user account? It's free and easy to register here - all you need is a valid email address.

Your son in law, by allowing another person to use his MSE user account is in breach of the terms and conditions of this site (9.2.9)
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/site/terms-conditions

sirusmathu

I think there may be the reason of gas leakage behind this. If gas leaks then it will increase the bills. Another reason may be some technical fault in connection. I suggest if this problem not solve then you must Switch to other supplier near you.

notbritishgas

sirusmathu wrote: »

I think there may be the reason of gas leakage behind this. If gas leaks then it will increase the bills. Another reason may be some technical fault in connection. I suggest if this problem not solve then you must Switch to other supplier near you.

£1000 of extra gas is approximately 2232 cubic metres, or just over 6 cubic metres per day.
I think we would all have heard the bang if leakage was the cause.